Friday, January 29, 2016

The PLAN is ready to replace its old QiongShan class Troopship NanYun830 with a modern ocean-going design. The first "NanYun830" or "South Troopship 830" weighting-in 2159 tons with a top speed of 16 knots. It can carry 400 troops or 350 tons of cargo

The new South Troopship 830 is capable of 20 knots and an estimated range of 5000 nm

BEIJING, January 26 (ChinaMil) -- Adm. Wu Shengli and Adm. Miao Hua, respectively commander and political commissar of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, observed the realistic confrontation exercises of the Marine Corps in the Gobi desert of Xinjiang on January 23.

This is the first time for the PLA Navy's top leaders to observe and instruct military exercises on the spot in 2016 according to public report, and the third time that Wu Shengli observed the cross-region exercises of the Marine Corps.

Zhang Junshe, associate researcher from the Military Academic Research Institute of the PLA Navy, said on January 25 that China's Marine Corps has large room for progress and will enhance its overall combat capability in the future.

It is reported that on January 22 and 23, the Marine Corps carried out live fire verification exercise, the confrontation exercise and the counter-terrorism drill involving special operations regiment in the Gobi desert for the first time. This is the fourth cross-region exercise of the Marine Corps since March 2014 and Wu Shengli has observed and instructed three of them, indicating the great importance he attaches to the Marine Corps.

"With a vast territory, China is faced with complicated surrounding situations, diversified threats and challenges, and volatile conditions. As we have expanded our national security interests and overseas interests, realistic war threats not only exist in the surrounding waters, but may also appear in more directions, remoter areas and vaster space", according to Zhang Junshe.

Therefore, Zhang stressed, "the Chinese Marine Corps has to be well trained in amphibious attack and carry out realistic trainings in high-elevation and cold areas, mountains, forests and Gobi desert, so as to adapt to different tasks and requirements under all kinds of circumstances."

The U.S. has the world's largest and strongest Marine Corps with nearly 200,000 troops, with three Marine Divisions as the ground combat force and close to 400 planes in the aviation force, including helicopters and F/A-18 and F-35 warplanes.

The U.S. has also deployed amphibious combat troops in all major theaters around the world, and has formed three ground expeditionary forces based on the three Marine Divisions, two deployed in the Pacific Ocean and one in the Atlantic Ocean.

Unlike the American Marine Corps that's focused on strike, Chinese Marine Corps' main mission is defensive combat. Although it is quite strong in the world, it still lags behind the American counterpart.

According to Zhang Junshe, "China's Marine Corps is much smaller than the U.S. counterpart in size. It lacks fixed-wing warplanes and the aviation force is too small. Moreover, China is weak in amphibious and long-distance power projection, and the PLA Navy lags far behind the American Navy that has about 30 large amphibious warfare ships."

Speaking of the Marine Corps development, Zhang Junshe believed the priority is to enhance its capability of amphibious landing operations and full-spectrum combat. Second, it should hone the ocean-going operation capability, with Chinese Marine Corps' participation in the Gulf of Aden escort missions and overseas Chinese evacuation operations being excellent practices.

In terms of equipment, the main battle equipment of the Marine Corps has to be further improved, including upgrading the tank performance and reinforcing aviation strike and transportation forces.

Moreover, large amphibious warfare ships with greater cruising ability, larger tonnage and higher speed shall be developed that can deliver Marines for combat operations quickly and improve their capability in amphibious landing operations, full-spectrum combat, and implementing diversified tasks.

The author is Guo Yuandan, reporter from the Global times. The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and don't represent views of the China Military Online website.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

While the Chinese Marine's amphibious IFVs might be sporting proper desert camo this time, they definitely can use better armor protection. No matter which "Desert Region" they eventually ventured into, it will be floored with RPGs, recoilless rifles.... and more recently, US supplied TOW missiles. Come to think of it, the new ZTQ 105mm light tank might just do the trick.

US
government reports describe Chinese-conceived “island chains” in the
Western Pacific as narrow demarcations for Chinese
“counter-intervention” operations to defeat US and allied forces in
altercations over contested territorial claims. The sparse scholarship
available does little to contest this excessively myopic assertion. Yet,
further examination reveals meaningful differences that can greatly
enhance an understanding of Chinese views of the “island chains”
concept, and with it important aspects of China’s efforts to develop as a
maritime power. Long before China had a navy or naval strategists
worthy of the name, the concept had originated and been developed for
decades by previous great powers vying for Asia-Pacific influence.
Today, China’s own authoritative interpretations are flexible, nuanced
and multifaceted – befitting the multiple and sometimes contradictory
factors with which Beijing must contend in managing its meteoric
maritime rise. These include the growing importance of sea lane security
at increasing distances and levels of operational intensity.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Photos of the day: Fuel stop at Yong Xing Island, South China Sea

With three external fuel tanks, it seems that the JH-7 fighter-bomber has the range to reach out to Yong Xing Island.

Just in case you're wondering, they are from the 32nd Regiment, 11th
PLAAF Air Division, Shenyang Military Region. Shanyang Military is
bordered by North Korea. Perhaps they are vacation, wanting some sun
and sand!